Service difficulty report · Steering Sys · Amtr SPORTSTAR

Difficulty date
November 15, 2007
Submitted
November 30, 2007
Operation
General aviation
Aircraft
N617EV
Make and model
Amtr SPORTSTAR
Aircraft serial
20071001
Aircraft time
32 hours, 75 cycles
Engine
Rotax ROTAX912ULS
Part
Steering Sys
Condition
Sensitivity
Location
Nlg
Stage of operation
LD
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
O
Precautionary procedure
O

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

AFTER A NORMAL LANDING, CFI (WITH 80 HOURS IN TYPE) AND STUDENT (WITH 1.2 HOURS IN TYPE) LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, EXITED THE RUNWAY, AND CAME TO REST IN A DRAINAGE DITCH. THEY STATED THAT THE EXTREME SENSITIVITY OF THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING LED TO PILOT INDUCED OSCILLATIONS THAT GREW PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPLETELY UNCONTROLLABLE. THE SENSITIVITY OF THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING IS A COMMON COMPLAINT, AND HAS BEEN CITED IN SEVERAL OTHER INCIDENTS.